American Handgunner March/April 2010 - Page 46

THE SIXGUNNER John Taffin The FNP-40 accepts the Streamlight M6X combination tactical flashlight and red laser sight. FNP-40 Rapid fire targets shot with the FNP-40. FNH American-Style ince the 1990s, the .40 S&W has been the cartridge of choice for many law enforcement agencies and has been chambered in virtually every 9mm-sized semiauto including the Browning Hi-Power. The latest .40 S&W is from the American counterpart of the first company to offer the Browning Hi-Power 9mm, which is also known as the P-35, since it arrived in 1935. Fabrique Nationale, or FN, was that original manufacturer and has long been known for quality products. The American version of Fabrique Nationale is FN HERSTAL located in Virginia, and this new semiauto pistol is the FNP-40. FN HERSTAL is owned by the HERSTAL Group, which also owns Browning and Winchester. It was HERSTAL which pulled the plug on the Winchester plant in New Haven a few years S back, however they have redeemed themselves by now producing the Winchester Model 70 once again. This is not a Japanese-manufactured rifle but rather comes from the HERSTAL FNH plant in Columbia, South Carolina. Winchesters have been produced under several names in my lifetime, however the company name is now back to the original Winchester Repeating Arms Company, as it was nearly 150 years ago. Integral Grip Frame Controls found on the left side of the FNP-40: takedown lever, slide lock, de-cocker, and magazine release. The FNP-40 joins the long list of polymer pistols with an integral grip frame. With the 4" steel barrel and slide the resulting unloaded weight is just under 27 ounces with an empty magazine; with a full magazine of 14 rounds the actual carry weight is right at 35 ounces. The molded polymer grip frame Typical groups fired with the FNP-40. provides a very secure gripping surface, with checkering molded into the front and back straps coupled with stippling on both sides. Not everyone has the same length fingers nor the same subjective feeling of what the shape of the backstrap should be. To address these differences, Continued on page 97 The FNP-40 was fired with a variety of .40 S&W factory loads. 46 WWW.AMERICANHANDGUNNER.COM • MARCH/APRIL2010